Tracline opening "it's not a gimmick" says Phil

In October 1984 the novel / experimental guided bus section of route at Short Heath (Birmingham) was opened - "tracline 65". Local residents were upset at the destruction of mature trees from the central reservation, whilst an enthusiastic Phil Bateman defends the project as "not a gimmick" - one of the spin off benefits sought was to preserve jobs at local manufacturers Metro Cammell and Guest Keen & Nettlefolds.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Tracline
• Tracline 65
• West Midlands PTE
• guided bus
• Phil Bateman
• Metrobus

[Fleetline119]

The tracline buses became ordinary buses.

My flickr account ("Walsall1955") has examples (if you search tracline" or 2970 or 2971 or 2972.

Youtube doesn't allow posting link here though!

photos/walsall1955/5227305228/

[Fleetline119]

At a stated cost of £1 million for a 600 yards section of bus route I personally regarded it as a waste of money - or a gimmick.

[kevkonk]

I remember this

[TheCobraUK]

£1,000.000 to go from one end (aka... shithole) to the other end (aka....pakie's shithole)...lol

[tag274]

actually part of it is used by cars and most of the middle up to stockland green is grass. I live on the route :)

[hobsholelane06]

It was closed, now its used by cars to park on in the middle of the road... Tarmaced over! also.. the mcw metrobus is going now, the end of an era!

Also.. check out phills hair style lol. haha